Le Journal

Miami (FL) football busted the lip of Fernando Mendoza early out the gate. Even getting Indiana fans and Curt Cignetti furious over a missed targeting call. And the Hurricanes kept pouring it out with their pass rush from there — hitting a rare stat against Mendoza. Miami tussled down the Heisman Trophy winner not once, or twice, but a season-typing best five times. Wisconsin represents the last team to bring down Mendoza for that many sacks. The ‘Canes turned up the defensive intensity too to get back into the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. Miami unleashes reignited pass rush on Fernando Mendoza, Indiana Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images Akheem Mesidor entered the game as the less heralded pass rusher compared to Rueben Bain. But plays an equal integral role in igniting the sacks for Miami. “The U” turned to Mesidor during the third quarter to spark the ‘Canes rally. Defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman began to widen Mesidor out — giving him more space to attack. Akheem Mesidore easily defeats Indiana's RT for his second sack of the night, creating an 8-yard loss for Fernando Mendoza in the 3rd Q of a game that's tightened up quickly.#Indiana #miami #CFBPlayoff #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/zYmly5XCDc — All 22 Films (@All_22_NFL_Cuts) January 20, 2026 Mesidor even sliced inside to wreck havoc against the pass — turning to his hand arsenal and motor to complete this sack. Akheem Mesidor with the Aaron Donald hands and excellent balance, getting home for the sack on Mendoza. What a combo with Bain Jr. and Mesidor. This sack started a momentum swing for the Miami Hurricanes. pic.twitter.com/sZCROXT0sx — Football Scout 365 (@DraftAnalyst365) January 20, 2026 Bain was anything but quiet on the night, though. He tangled with high-caliber left tackle Carter Smith and still got around. Rueben Bain Jr vs Carter Smith Smith hadn't allowed a sack all season entering tonight's National Championship Gamepic.twitter.com/kGTrmCqvbz — PFF College (@PFF_College) January 20, 2026 The potential top 10 NFL Draft pick ahead of the April session stayed on the field with a hot motor — even against the run. Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. has such heavy hands and he knows how to weaponize them. Scary pass rusher but just as scary against the run. That’s a top 10 pick. Don’t get caught up in the arm length pic.twitter.com/05ZmFeU2pY — Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) January 20, 2026 Both ends combined for three sacks before the fourth quarter. Miami piled five tackles for a loss too before the 10 minute mark of the fourth quarter. They later watched Mendoza rumble his way into the end zone on a fourth-and-five that put IU up 24-14. The post Stats show Miami is bringing the pain to Fernando Mendoza appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Paige Bueckers has gotten buckets all her life — from Hopkins High School to the University of Connecticut and now to the Dallas Wings of the WNBA. Buckets simply follow her wherever she goes, and she’s one of the most difficult players to stop when she gets on a roll — just ask the Mist of the Unrivaled basketball league, the team Bueckers and the Breeze demolished on Monday night. Bueckers was so dominant that the Mist barely stood a chance, trailing the Breeze by double digits heading into the final frame. With the league adopting the Elam ending that the NBA’s All-Star Game used from 2020 to 2023, Bueckers had the opportunity to end the game with her team up by 17, 81-64, in the final period. And with the Wings star waxing hot from the field, she called her shot in semi-transition and drilled a ridiculously difficult stepback jumper from deep midrange over the outstretched arms of Veronica Burton, giving the Breeze an 83-64 victory with her 36th and 37th points of the night. 37 POINTS. GAME-WINNER. PAIGE BUECKERS. pic.twitter.com/PYmzVaqgYY — TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) January 20, 2026 Considering how electric and composed Bueckers is at the same time for nearly every minute she spends on the court, it’s hard to forget that she’s only 24 years of age and was recently coming off her rookie campaign in the WNBA with the Wings. The sky truly is the limit for her. Wings star Paige Bueckers, Breeze gain ground in Unrivaled standings Chris Jones-Imagn Images The Breeze started off 2026 on the ideal note, winning their first two games of the new year. But they dropped their next two games heading into MLK Day, which made their convincing win over the Mist that much more important. Their next game will be in six days, when they take on the 0-4 Lunar Owls. The Lunar Owls were supposed to have Napheesa Collier leading the way, but she recently underwent double ankle surgery that would take months for her to recover from. The post Wings’ Paige Bueckers caps wild scoring night with Unrivaled game-winner appeared first on ClutchPoints.